Quest to start hitting mailboxes

The latest issue of Quest, The College of Idaho alumni magazine, went out in the mail this week and should begin hitting mailboxes as early as today. The magazine features a detailed wrap-up of October’s inauguration festivities and an overview of The College’s new PEAK curriculum.

Conveniently inserted in the magazine are envelopes for making a gift to The College; remember, the end of the calendar/tax year is fast approaching. Gifts to The College of Idaho are generally eligible for the Idaho state income tax credit for contributions to Idaho educational institutions (half of the first $200 per person).

Campus-wide New Year’s resolution forthcoming

NNU: The rematch

On Tuesday, December 8, The C of I men’s basketball team visits NNU’s Johnson Sports Center for a rematch of last month’s epic battle in the JAAAC, which the Yotes won 79-72. Tickets are required: C of I students, faculty, and staff can purchase tickets in McCain between 10 and 4; alumni and other supporters can purchase tickets in The C of I Sports Information Office from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesday through Monday, or by calling the NNU ticket office at 467-8876. General Admission tickets are $6.00 for adults, $5.00 for seniors, $4.00 for students – with exact change preferred.

Along with the game is a toy drive to benefit less-fortunate children during the holidays: The Salvation Army will be collecting toys at the game, with a Yotes vs. Crusaders theme to see who can donate more toys.

In addition, Larry Gebert from Channel 7 will be broadcasting a live remote from The C of I campus at lunchtime on Tuesday, hoping that the Coyote Crazies will come out and support the toy drive.

C of I alumni, families, and friends are also invited to join their NNU counterparts for a pre-game pizza buffet served by Idaho Pizza Company in the Johnson Sports Center field house prior to the game. $7 for adults and $3 for children 5-12 nets all-you-can-eat dinner salad, pizza (cheese, pepperoni, or Canadian bacon), punch, and water. The buffet will be open 5:30-7, and they’re only accepting cash.

JKAF gives The C of I $1 million for scholarships

As a part of its “Go On” campaign, the J. A. and Kathryn Albertson Foundation today announced a gift of $1 million to The College of Idaho to underwrite scholarships for Idaho residents over the next four-to-six years. The series of gifts throughout the state from the Foundation means college students all over Idaho have something extra to be thankful for this week. The C of I is particularly thankful for the J. A. and Kathryn Albertson Foundation: It has given The College more than $73 million over the last decade; The C of I was also known as “Albertson College of Idaho” for nearly 16 years from 1991-2007 in recognition of Joe and Kathryn’s lifelong commitment to giving to the institution.† As a private college, The C of I receives no direct state support and instead thrives thanks to the philanthropic efforts of benefactors such as the Albertsons and their heirs.

The College of Idaho President Marvin Henberg said, “We are excited because the five categories of emphasis for the Albertson Foundation fit right in with our priority of extending a quality education to a broad diversity of students. This gift will make a significant impact on the next five years of students.”

The scholarships will make a significant difference in helping to close the gap between the amount of institutional aid The C of I could potentially award versus what it can and does; at present, 98% of students attending The College receive institutional grant/scholarship assistance.† The JKAF’s initiative is intended to help support five broad categories of students: (1) First-generation college students; (2) “Completion”† students, that is, people who attended college at one point and are returning to complete a degree; (3) Transfer students from two-year colleges; (4) Non-traditional students, that is, students who have never attended college and have been out of high school at least a year; and (5) Students of high academic merit/achievement who successfully completed at least four math and four science courses in high school.† Students receiving these gifts should bolster The C of I’s already Idaho-leading graduation rate.† In addition, the expectation is that the recipients of these awards will broaden the diversity of The College’s student body — in the wake of the JKAF’s record-breaking gift to The C of I two years ago, enrollment is up nearly 22%.

“Scholarships are the key to the success of first-generation college students,” said Juanitta Pearson, The C of I Director of Financial Aid. “Without scholarships, they’re working one, two, or more jobs.† Assistance eases the burden so they can focus on their studies.”

In addition, the “completion” and non-traditional students brought into The College community will introduce a new mature dimension to an otherwise very youthful student body.† While The C of I has always had great success attracting transfer students, consecutive record-breaking years of traditional freshman classes have otherwise skewed the population ever-younger.† This gift presents a high-impact opportunity for older adults to return to The C of I to complete degrees in the current economic climate.† Increasing the percentage of college-educated Idahoans is seen as critical to the future of the state’s economy.

“We need to do more to engage all Idahoans to support students in completing their education and reaching their full potential,” said Governor Butch Otter (’67).† “We all must work together for Idaho to remain competitive in the ever-changing global economy.”

Further announcements about the specific details of the composition of the scholarships and how they will be awarded will be forthcoming in the ensuing weeks.

Bell-ringers’ efforts underway

Each year, The Salvation Army asks fraternities and sororities at The College of Idaho to help out in one of their most important fund raising activities of the year. Thus far, the following organizations have signed up to help in this cause:
Dec. 6th: Delta Tau Delta and Gamma Phi Beta
Dec. 13th Kappa Sigma
Dec. 20th Sigma Epsilon

Coyote Connections is Jan. 16

About 45 alumni and 80 students have registered for Coyote Connections. This is the third networking opportunity for juniors to meet alumni from different career fields and learn about the skills they will need when they leave The College of Idaho, whether they are entering grad school or the job market. The student registration deadline is tomorrow, Dec. 4; to register online as a student, click here.

More alumni are still needed. The day includes workshops and speed networking. Alumni will share information about their career fields and what students can do now to prepare for grad school or a job.

Coyote Connections is Saturday, Jan. 16. Alumni are asked to participate from 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. in a day of engaging activities; to register online, click here.

Finney 100th anniversary reunion planned for June

Plans are underway for Finney Hall’s 100th anniversary reunion
to be held June 18-20, 2010. Please save this date, and plan
to join us as we celebrate this special occasion! We are continuing
our search for those who lived in Finney Hall. If you were a Finneyite
and can also supply names and/or contact info for other Finneyites we may have not identified or lost touch with, please contact the alumni office.

If you are interested in participating in a talent showcase as part of the reunion, scheduled for Friday, June 18, in Jewett, please email Sylvia Hunt, whether you have something to share as a soloist or would like to be part of a “pick-up” group. Family members are also welcome to participate.

Faculty, Student and Staff News

Alan Stanford exhibit opens today

Chemistry stockroom manager Alan Stanford (‘68) has an exhibition opening today at the Idaho State Historical Museum, 610 Julia Davis Drive in Boise. “A Watercolor Journey through Idaho” comprises more than 80 paintings and was featured on page 24 of Wednesday’s Boise Weekly; to read the article online, click here. The show is slated to run through Feb. 27.

Raptosh in forthcoming poetry anthology

Johnson on KBSU tomorrow

English/environmental studies associate professor Rochelle Johnson will be discussing her new book Passions for Nature on Boise State Radio’ program “Off the Trail” (hosted by Jyl Hoyt) this weekend. The program airs on 91.5 FM Friday at 6:35 a.m., 8:35 a.m., and 4:44 p.m., and then on 90.3 FM Saturday at 8:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. Readers outside KBSU’s broadcast footprint can listen online here.

Staff Association honors employees

The C of I Staff Association on Tuesday announced its final honorees of fall term as Employees of the Month. Please help The College congratulate the following staffers who received the distinction this term:

Smith article published in magazine

Director of student involvement Savala Smith’ article “Leadership Training on a Budget” was published in the November/December issue of Campus Activities Programming magazine. The magazine is a publication of the National Association for Campus Activities, and can be read online here, beginning on page 53.

Knickerbocker band performance Friday

English assistant professor Scott Knickerbocker’s bluegrass ensemble, the Hokum Hi-Flyers, will be performing in a benefit concert Friday night at 7:30 at the Idaho Outdoor Association Hall, 3401 Brazil St. in Boise. Admission is $10 for adults, $5 for children, with proceeds benefiting the McCall Nordic Ski Team, who are struggling with expenses stemming from a contractual dispute involving an event last year.

To see more news from The C of I faculty, students and staff, click here.

Upcoming Campus Events:

Art Club holiday sale tonight

The annual holiday art sale is tonight in Langroise from 4:30-7:30. Student, staff, and faculty artisans will be showcasing paintings, scarves, jewelry and other unique gift items, with a portion of the proceeds going to benefit the Art Club.

International cultural show Friday

The International Student Organization is hosting an International Cultural Show on Friday, December 4th at 6 p.m. in the Jewett Auditorium at The College of Idaho campus. It’s free for those with a C of I ID card and children under 12. Cost is $5 for the public.

C of I students will be performing traditional dancing, singing, and other acts from many countries including Bosnia, Brazil, Colombia, Indonesia, Maldives, Panama, Rwanda, and Thailand. Proceeds will be donated to a program for children at Lincoln Elementary School.

Museum workday this Saturday

The monthly Orma J. Smith Museum workday is Saturday, Dec. 5 from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Volunteers can come by anytime during those hours except as stated below. Tasks include everything from curation to construction and clean up.

Lunch will be served and the lunch seminar speaker will be Richard Salisbury, who will present “Idaho Land Shells, Fresh Water Snails & a Few Marine Cousins.” The museum will be locked during lunch from noon to 1:30 p.m.

Feast of Carols on Saturday

The C of I presents its annual Feast of Carols on Saturday at 4 p.m. in the Langroise Foyer, featuring The C of I choirs under the direction of Sean Rogers. Admission is free and refreshments will be available.

Chamber music concert Sunday

Advanced Creative Nonfiction readings Monday

Students from Scott Knickerbocker’s Advanced Creative Nonfiction Workshop course will present public readings of their work on Monday night at 7 in the McCain Pub. Cookies, coffee, and tea will be provided.

Nutcracker next Thursday

Back by popular demand, Caldwell Fine Arts presents the Eugene Ballet’s Nutcracker, Thursday, December 10, at 7:30 p.m. in Jewett Auditorium. Advance tickets are available on the web at www.caldwellfinearts.org, or call 459-3405/459-5783. All seating will be reserved, with ticket prices ranging from $14-$18 for adults, and $8-$12 for youth/students. Admission is free for The C of I students, and special rates for alumni are available through the alumni office. Artistic director Toni Pimble will give a brief talk before the show at 7 in the Langroise Recital Hall.

Life after The C of I: Where are we now?

Local vintners Ron Bitner (‘68) and Martin Fujishin (‘00) were referenced in a Nov. 20 Idaho Statesman article about Thanksgiving weekend wine tastings. The article is available online here.

Chris Farnsworth (‘93) saw his forthcoming novel, Blood Oath, previewed on the L. A. Times website Tuesday; to read the article, click here. The book’s official website, presidentsvampire.com, also launched this week. Blood Oath is scheduled for release May 18.

Ray Neilsen (‘88) was featured in the Nov. 20 edition of the Vicksburg (MS) Post, celebrating the launch of the Education Pays program for successful GED students from Warren County. The Craig H. Neilsen foundation, which Ray co-chairs, underwrote the first $50,000 of the effort. The article is available online here.

The two poems by Megan Williams (‘08) referenced in the Nov. 12 newsletter are now available online in ducts: the webzine of personal storieshere.

Keep in touch with The C of I by sharing your news with the Alumni Office.

Alumni & Friends Events

The next destination Alumni and Friends event will be at the Sundance Film Festival January 23-24, where we will be screening two Sundance Film Festival films and have a personal “Meet with the Director” chat. Discounted hotel rooms are available and tickets for the screening are limited and will be sold on a first-come, first-serve. For more information, or to reserve your tickets, email alumni@collegeofidaho.edu.

Dec. 10 - Family night at the Nutcracker. Caldwell Fine Arts presents their annual performance of the Nutcracker. Discounted tickets are available for alumni and friends: Adults $14-18, children $8-12. RSVPs are required, please contact the alumni office at 459-5770 or alumni@collegeofidaho.edu.

Dec. 17 - (Seattle) Celebrate the season with fellow College of Idaho Alums, Three Dollar Bill Cinema, and the classic film Auntie Mame. Let’s meet up for Central Cinema’s “An Evening With Auntie Mame” event. Along with the movie there will be holiday festivities provided by Three Dollar Bill Cinema and Central Cinema’s full bar/food menu available throughout the evening. The event starts at 6:30 p.m., and more details are available here.

Dec. 20 – Treasure Valley holiday party. Come celebrate the holidays and friendships with fellow alumni and
friends at Beside Bardenay in Boise from 2-4 p.m. Enjoy food,
drinks, games and prizes. Plan to attend whether you live in
the area or are back in town visiting.

Reminders:

Biology newsletter now available

The biology department announces
that the latest Biology Alumni Newsletter is available. The newsletter
includes highlights in student-faculty collaborative research, off-campus
field expeditions and more. Click here to go to the newsletter, which will open as a .pdf file.

RA Reunion in January

The Office of Residence Life is hosting
a Residence Life staff dinner reunion on Saturday, Jan. 16,
following Coyote Connections. All former RAs are invited for a campus
and residence hall tour, dinner and reception, where they can reconnect with
former RA colleagues, share stories and hear what residence life is up to now.
Child care will be provided upon request. Attendees are asked to RSVP by Dec.
14 to 459-5150.

Sign up for C of I Alumni Connections

The College of Idaho Alumni Association introduces C
of I Alumni Connections, a Facebook application. Alumni Connections allows
you to:

Update your alumni profile info
when you move, get a new job, get married, etc.

Search for classmates

View and post class notes

Alumni must have a College of Idaho Alumni Association
Online Community account to participate. To get an account, click here. Facebook accounts can be linked to The College of
Idaho Alumni Association Online Community account by clicking here.

Alumni merchandise available from C of I online bookstore

Alumni merchandise including sweatshirts, license plate
frames and school spirit house flags can now be ordered online. Alumni receive a 10 percent discount on all
purchases made at the store, online or over the phone. To receive the discount
when ordering online or by phone, please contact the bookstore at 459-5407. The license plate frames and house flags pictured must be ordered directly from
the bookstore by phone or email.

C of I license plates available

Idaho license plates with The College of Idaho name and logo are sold for $35 the first year they are
purchased, which is in addition to the annual vehicle registration fee.
They are $25 plus annual fees for each subsequent renewal. The
College of Idaho receives $25 from the sale of new plates and $15 from each
renewal, which goes to its scholarship and academic programs. Personalized and
sample license plates can be ordered online. Non-personalized plates are available at any county
auto licensing office in Idaho.